Thirty jobs are on the line at Bradford firm Lister Fabrics in a move which has shocked workers and could sound the death knell for weaving at the firm.

Alan Haddow, chairman of Bradford distribution firm Haddow Holdings, which bought the firm 18 months ago, said today that 30 days notice had been given to employees at Manningham Mills and he expected 30 out of the remaining 55 weavers would have to go.

He said the firm could have saved 20 jobs and created a further 20 if planning permission had been given for a retail development at the North Mill.

A Listers worker, who didn't want to be named, said: "This is a big shock for us and a big shock for Bradford.

"It's disgusting. I have worked here for years and, for a lot of people, it's their lives."

Mr Haddow said: "We had 120 workers when we bought Listers 18 months ago but we have had to lose jobs because we could not keep the weaving business going as much as we intended. The strength of the pound and competition from firms in countries such as Belgium and Turkey, who also produce cotton velvet, has prevented us from stemming the losses at the firm."

Talks were under way with trade unions and staff at Listers had been kept up to date.

Mr Haddow said: "I have a soft spot for Listers and, when it went into receivership 18 months ago, I decided to buy it because when I set up in business in 1971 Listers were my first customer."

An attempt is being made to keep the historic Listers name going by having the weaving of the firm's top-quality cotton velvet carried out by other companies in the area.

Mr Haddow's company, the Haddow group, based on Canal Road, employs 150 people mainly in distribution of ceramics, fabrics and ladies' underwear.

The six-storey Listers Mill was built by Bradford wool baron Samuel Cunliffe Lister in 1873. The North Mill has been used as a manufacturing base since then but the South Mill has fallen into disrepair and has been the subject of a number of rescue packages.

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